In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the title is a reference to the ancient time in which each of the Iron Islands had a "salt king" and a "rock king", from which a "High King of the Isles" was elected in a kingsmoot. Both traditions were put to an end when Urron Greyiron descended on Nagga's Hill on Old Wyk and slew all the other kings, taking the crown for himself and making the kingship of the Iron Isles hereditary.